Schuyler County sheriff denied bond reduction

The Schuyler County sheriff facing five felony charges was denied bond reduction Thursday, with the court saying his release could cause a public safety issue.

Schuyler County Sheriff Joshua Dole, 30, is being held in the Clark County Jail after being charged Wednesday with three class D felony counts of permitting the escape of an inmate and two class C felony counts of witness tampering.

According to the probable cause statement, the suspect is accused of transporting at least two Schuyler County jail inmates on at least two separate occasions via private vehicle to bars in Sullivan and Knox counties during March and April. He is also accused of transporting two inmates on two separate occasions from the jail for personal labor at his residence in Schuyler County between February and May.

According to the probable cause statement, the accusations were corroborated by eight citizen informants.

The suspect is also accused of threatening his deputy sheriff and a deputy officer with loss of their jobs if they cooperated with the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation.

Adair County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Wilson was appointed special prosecutor in the case.